A NEW community larder to help people during the cost of living crisis is set to open in Largs later this year.

The larder idea, which has already been successfully set up in West Kilbride, will help with people feeling the pinch, organisers say.

Largs Library is set to be the venue but will require to re-configured to provide space and access, with plans currently being looked into by North Ayrshire Council.

The service in West Kilbride helps people who are struggling to access food and requires a small payment of £3 from a family for £12 worth of shopping or £5 for £20 of shopping.

It is hoped that can be replicated in Largs.

It is funded with grants from North Ayrshire Council and people who make standing orders every month into a bank account.

The Largs Community Council sub committee, Access To Food, has received £6,000 funding from the council to launch the project.

The group's chair, Robbie Stevenson, said it is good news for Largs and the local community.

He said: "The library is being re-jigged with partitions where people can come in from the rear in order to access the larder.

"You will be able to go in, purchase food and make a payment.

"Volunteers will be required when we are closer to getting it off the ground.

"The foodbank is for people on certain benefits but this is more of a community based aspect for people who need help.

"The Access to Food group could potentially play a part of it - we still have money from a Stakis grant we received last year which can go towards the project.

"They get the fridges and freezers will come from North Ayrshire Council but like everything else it needs people to make it work.

"This is a call now to the community for people to come and volunteer."

Louise Riddex, locality officer for North Ayrshire Council, said: "I am looking at how else we can start taking things forward.

"There are people who work who will still require access to a larder so we are looking at an evening or weekend opening as well.

"There are 12 larders across North Ayrshire and they are all run by volunteers, with support from North Ayrshire Council. This will be a great asset to Largs."

Community councillor Wendy Low Thomson says that she hopes that the new community garden to be built at Douglas Park can grow food for both the foodbank and the larder.